🇧🇷 Willian

[Barbara 15,149]

Anyone else think he's been talking too much since he arrived? I mean he hasn't even played in a Chelsea shirt yet. He's overdoing it, imo. Needs to be quite and let his football do the talking.

actually many of those quotes reported by different journos in England were all part of one interview for a Brazilian website. So actually he gave one interview for Chelsea TV and then another for Globo Esporte and that's it. From those two interviews many articles were written by many sites, taking different quotes at a time.

I don't see any exaggeration at all.

[meetdoscar 335]

For me, he can talk as much as he wants as long as he is in blue and for blue especially if it improves his english.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

actually many of those quotes reported by different journos in England were all part of one interview for a Brazilian website. So actually he gave one interview for Chelsea TV and then another for Globo Esporte and that's it. From those two interviews many articles were written by many sites, taking different quotes at a time.

I don't see any exaggeration at all.

Still, the "Chelsea is better than Tottenham in every aspect" is just rude and highly unprofessional.

[DanishBlue 426]

He is right though.

[Barbara 15,149]

Still, the "Chelsea is better than Tottenham in every aspect" is just rude and highly unprofessional.

Except that's not what he said at all . Don't you know the media - the English better than no other - have a thing for dramatics?

Here is a literal translation of what he said (all quotes, not only about Tottenham)

On his chances of being capped again

“There’s no doubt English football is huge and offers great visibility. I hope it helps me to be called again to the national team, but of course it depends on me. I’ll have to play to prove I deserve to be called by winning every day. First I need to fight to be in the starting eleven, then play well and finally be called to the NT. That’s my goal.”

On the fierce competition in the team’s attacking midfield

“I don’t have a secured spot and I know that quite well. I’ll have to kill a lion a day and try to earn a place for myself among all those players - respecting them all. I’ll train, I’ll play and I’ll be focused on give my best in hopes to ear the supporters’ and the manager’s trust.”

On how he ended up at Chelsea – his old dream [said so by the site, not Willian himself]

“Things just happened. Chelsea made a bid and everyone knew about my wish to play for Chelsea since I was at Shakhtar. I didn’t have to think twice. Both presidents [suleyman Kerimov and Roman Abramovich] are friends and it helped as well. It was an easy negotiation. The Brazilian called – and David Luiz told me to come fast. I was very happy to have them around, it’ll certainly help me a lot.”

On Tottenham

“It’s part of transfer windows [negotiating with many clubs]. I’ve always wanted to play for Chelsea, especially now with Mister Mourinho here as I consider him the best manager in the world. When I had days off in London I went to the stadium to watch Chelsea’s matches. I’m beyond happy for coming here.”

On playing the Champions League again

“Champions [League] is a very important competition. In the latest edition I did well, I scored goals that were important [to the team]. I hope to do even better for Chelsea because I know it gives huge visibility. I know Brazil NT have a lot of players in this competition, playing in this condition, so it’ll depend on what I’ll show, playing a solid football while I’m there. Then there will be chances.

http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/futebol-ingles/noticia/2013/09/willian-espera-chance-na-vitrine-do-chelsea-para-voltar-selecao.html

and here basically the same in another article they had 4 days before:

http://sportv.globo.com/site/programas/arena-sportv/noticia/2013/09/willian-quer-matar-um-leao-por-dia-para-disputar-copa-de-2014.html

(there's a vid interview with him in this one - in which he confirms the club paid for him 37M euros)

As this is the source they mention in the article, those are the only quotes by Willian - but not even the words by the article's author imply anything about Chelsea being better than Tottenham in any aspect.

If you compare some of those quotes to the ones I've translated the other day to SporTv you'll see they're basically the same because globoesporte.com and SporTv are part of communication conglomerate Globo.

I'll transcript the vid later - as at first I didn't realize it was a vid

[Barbara 15,149]

Vid transcript from http://sportv.globo.com/site/programas/arena-sportv/noticia/2013/09/willian-quer-matar-um-leao-por-dia-para-disputar-copa-de-2014.html
In case you want to watch the vid, it's the small pic in the left side just under the title - the slow girl here didn't notice the vid at first, hahahaha.

On his journey until he landed at Chelsea
“It’s been a long journey to go to Russia and then come to London. In only five months there were two long trips: from Ukraine to Russia and then from Russia to London, but thanks God for that and I’m very happy with this chance I now have.

On the amount of money spent on him in the time span of 5 months (€35m from Anzhi and then €37m from Chelsea) more than Neymar for Barça
“Yeah… I had a €35M release clause and Shakhtar wasn’t going to accept any less and only Anzhi was willing to pay it. And now this situation with Chelsea was also important because for €37M you have a big responsibility and you have to play well otherwise fans will complain.”

How do you feel wearing this Chelsea-Blue jersey? Does it feel good? Also you’ll have a super star manager and three other Brazilian in the squad, how is that?
“I’m very happy and it couldn’t feel any better wearing this jersey. I’ve always said I've dreamed of playing for Chelsea, and the club tried to sign me two seasons ago, but Shakhtar didn’t release me. But I continued to follow the club. Every time I had days off at Shakhtar I came to London to watch Chelsea in the stadium [i always had trouble understanding why he’d have days off in London, but he made it clear that he left Ukraine and came to London only to watch Chelsea – I have the feels, sorry for the fangirl moment]. Now my dream has come true and I’m very happy. But now I have to work hard under the manager that I consider the best in the world – Mourinho – and I guess I’ll have great prospects of growing under his management.”

Fierce competition in his position
“Those are quality players and I don’t have a secured spot in the team. I’ll have to kill a lion a day for my spot, but of course respecting all the other players.”

There were negotiations with Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea. Why did you choose Chelsea and not Tottenham?
“Those are common situations in a player’s life. That’s how it works, there were clubs interested on me, as you mentioned and what made a difference was my wish to play for Chelsea, my dream to play for them. Also there’s Mourinho who as I said is the best manager in the world. That’s what made a difference for me.

(as this was a live sports TV show, footie commentators were invited to ask him questions then, but the anchor first asked a question to the commentators to link up both studios)

Anchor: Do you think he has a chance to play in the first team? Commentator: I think Mourinho will settle for Eden – Oscar – Willian (but he’s Brazilian, talking in a live football show, so there’s some bias there – although he addresses that it seems like Mata lost some ground with Mourinho and he’ll fight to regain his spot in the team). Question to Willian: Do you think your chemistry with Eto’o could help you to secure a spot in the team?
“Eto’o has become a great friend of mine. He helped me a lot during my brief time at Anzhi. The chemistry will help, we know each other after playing five months for Anzhi. He’s also a very funny guy off the pitch and I’m very happy to have him here as well”

Speaking about Eto’o, he’s now 32, do you think he’s still playing on high level?
“Yes, he is. He’s playing very well and he continues to score goals. He’s a great player undoubtedly.”

Anchor: Willian was very good playing the Champions League last season for Shakhtar. Do you think he could be called for the national team? Commentator: I think he could. He’s much better than many players that have been called. Question: Is it true that Mourinho is a long-time admirer of your football and tried to have you while he was still at Real Madrid?
“Actually I’m surprised by this fact [Mourinho admiring him as a player – the commentator mentioned there were rumors about it]. There had been conversations with some clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona, but no official bid was done. And now I have the pleasure to work with Mourinho here at Chelsea, and I think that’s going to be awesome.”

Anchor: Willian what has appealed more to you? Playing for Chelsea or playing under Mourinho? [ at this question]
“As I said, I already wanted to play for Chelsea and I only wanted it more after Mourinho came back. So when the bid came, I didn’t think twice because it’s a chance to work with a manager that many players want to work with”

Have you thought already about facing Tottenham? They must be upset with you []
“Just the other day I was thinking about it how it’s going to be [probably when he watched and liked the vid from the fans in Prague ], but that happens in the world of football. A player has to choose his destination and what’s better for him and I think the best thing for me was choosing Chelsea [i guess that’s the quote that was twisted, but it’s very clear in his words he meant the choice was the best for him, he doesn’t compare the clubs].”

Brazil NT has a problem with center attack midfielders now with both Ronaldinho and Kaká trying to recover their best football. What do you think about it [and your chances]?
“Of course that’s one of my goals. I’ve had a chance when I was called by Mano Menezes. So I have to work hard, give my best and try to have a new chance to be called again.”

Anchor: Is that your biggest goal? To play the World Cup? It’s that you aim to achieve playing for Chelsea now?
“It’s one of my goals. Of course I want to play this World Cup, to be among the 23 that are going. It’s a dream of mine. For that to happen I must have a great season.”

Anchor: When are you going to have your debut for Chelsea? [woah finally a good question ]
“If everything goes according to plan, on the 14^th, against Everton [he didn’t clarify if that’s his plan or Mourinho’s].”

Then they talk about his two daughters still being in Brazil because they couldn’t work their visas yet – which is surprising, didn’t know they could separate parents and children like that if he has a work permit.

ps: I'm dying reading the comments. People making fun of Arsenal is always priceless. Btw a lot of Brazilians asking who is Willian.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Our most pacy player, up there with Hazard atm as our fastest. But he need to try to score more goals, his stats might well be alright for a winger at Anzhi or Donest, here he need to step up a bit more.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Our most pacy player, up there with Hazard atm as our fastest. But he need to try to score more goals, his stats might well be alright for a winger at Anzhi or Donest, here he need to step up a bit more.

If you're talking about pure pace, then both Ramires and Bertrand easily eclipse any of our other players. What Hazard has is acceleration coupled with incredible close control in tight spaces that allows him to beat players at will.

[mac.bo 48]

How long before Willian is 100% fit?

[CHOULO19 24,332]

How long before Willian is 100% fit?

I'm pretty sure he's fit right now, but he'll probably need some time to get used to the league.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Was decent enough i thought.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Game changed once we subbed him off

[DDA 9,941]

Looked like the best player on the pich along with Oscar tonight.

[zolayes 14,489]

Looked like the best player on the pich along with Oscar tonight.

one of the very few who turned in a decent performance

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Thought he was good but not as good as some people made out. He gave the ball away like 8 or 9 times tonight, the most in out team. Also wasteful at times, plenty to improve on.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Hazard should have went off instead. Decent debut.

[meetdoscar 335]

He looked ok for a debut he will be better in the future

[The_Flash 1,144]

He looked decent, I don't think he should have come off

[polo 18]

seriously none was good tonight even Oscar then Willian

[polo 18]

but for a debut it's not bad.